Oscillating washing machine tub



July 25, 1950 T. R.. SMITH OSCILLATING WASHING MACHINE TUB Filed Aug 30,1945 Patented July 25, 1 950 OSCILLATVING WASHING MACHINE TUB Thomas R.Smith, Newton, Iowa, assignor to The Maytag Company, Newton, Iowa, acorporation of Delaware Application August 30, 1945, Serial No. 613,542

1 Claim. (Cl. 68-1-174) The present invention relates to a washingmachine consisting of an Oscillating tub formed or provided withdiametrically opposed baflles so constructed and arranged as toproduce anovel washing action for washing clothes.

Among the objects of the present invention is the provision of a novelwashing machine tub adapted to be oscillated about a vertical axis. Inthe disclosed embodiment the-tub is formed or provided with a pair ofdiametrically opposed baffles formed or disposed along-the side .wallsof the tub. These bafiies extendradiallyinward to a rounded point orapex and from this point or apex flare outwardly in a smooth curvemerging in an unbroken line with the side walls of the tub.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a noveltub and bafile arrangement extending along the sides of the tub and forthe depth thereof in such manner as to form two opposed pockets, thebaffles. being so formed as to direct and impel the washing solution andclothes from one into the opposed pocket and by rapidly oscillating thetub, produce a vigorous twisting and bending of the clothes and a highlyeffective water and washing action.

The invention comprehends such further objects, advantages andcapabilities as will later more fully appear and are inherentlypossessed thereby, and while the drawing shows a preferred embodiment,it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of modification andchange, and comprehends other details, arrangements of parts, featuresand constructions without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the novel washing machine, certainparts being broken away for a more clear disclosure.

Figure 2 is a top plan View of the tub and baflles.

Referring more particularly to the disclosure in the drawings, theembodiment therein selected to illustrate the invention comprises a tubI of substantially cylindrical form and having its flat base or bottom 2mounted upon the upper end of a vertical drive shaft 3 for alternatelyrotating or oscillating the tub through a desired arc of movement and ata desired speed.

Provided on the interior of the tub are spaced diametrically opposed andimperforate bafiles 4, 4 extending substantially vertically along thelongitudinal axis of the tub and from the base to the upper part of thetub. As more clearly shown in the horizontal or top plan view of Fig.

. 2 2, these baffles extend, radially inward to a rounded point or edge5 1 and flare outwardly therefrom in a smooth curve at 6, 6 with thebase of each ballle' merging smoothly into the side walls '1 of thetub'to provide a pair of substantially elliptical or kidney-shapedconnecting pockets 8. 8L v The vertical drive shaft 3 is preferablyjoure nalled adjacent its upper end ina bearing 9 received or pressfitted into a sleeve ID provided at the upper end of a gearcase H forhousing the drive unit. Thelower end of the shaft seats upon a thrustbearing I2 and adjacent thereto is journalled in a bearing I3 pressfitted into a sleeve 01' collar l4 formed in the base I5 of the gearcase. Slidably and loosely mounted on the shaft is a gear or pinion I6and directly thereabove a clutch l I is pinned or keyed to the shaft 3for oscillating or alternately rotating this shaft when the pinion orgear I6 is clutched thereto.

In continuous meshing engagement with and driving the pinion I 6 is arack I8 slidably mounted and guided upon a cross bar or guide rod I9.The rack is mounted or formed upon the rear of a cross head 20 having adisc 2I provided with a vertically extending slot 22 on its oppositeface. In this slot is slidably mounted a collar or slide 23 carried onan eccentric pin affixed to the rear face of a Worm wheel 24 which is incontinuous meshing engagement with a worm 25 mounted on the shaft 26 ofa motor or other power drive 21. Thus by driving and continuouslyrotating the worm 25 and worm wheel 24, the collar or slide 23 is movedin the vertical slot 22 and thereby reciprocate's the cross head 20 andits rack I8. This rack being in continuous mesh with the normally loosepinion I6, oscillates this pinion about the vertical drive shaft 3, andupon elevation of the pinion sufficiently to clutchingly engage theundersurface or clutch face of the clutch H, the continuouslyoscillating pinion is clutched to the drive shaft 3 and oscillates thetub through the desired arc and at the desired speed of oscillation.Excellent results have been secured by oscillatin the tub of the presentembodiment at a speed of approximately 52 oscillations per minute andthrough an arc of approximately 225 degrees. However, it is to beunderstood that the speed of oscillation and the are or angle ofmovement may be varied somewhat in accordance with the dimensions orcapacity of the tub. In the disclosed embodiment, the diameter of thetub is shown as approximately sixteen inches with the two baffles, vanesor blades 4 being of uniform depth and extending into the tub approxi- 3mately four inches from the outer periphery or substantially one-halfthe radius of the tub. Also in this form of tub, excellent results werehad when employing approximately ten to eleven gallons of washingsolution.

The pinion l6 may be raised or lowered by any suitable control meansmounted or located at the exterior or the tub and readily accessibletothe operator; it. being understood that the pinion is of such length asto remain in continuous meshing engagement with the rack at all times.Also, any suitable base, frame or support may be provided for themachine. A suitable lid 28 is-provided to form a closure for thetub.

It will be readily apparent from the above de.-.

scription and the disclosure in the drawings, that the present inventioncomprehends a novel tub and baille arrangement and construction. The

currents or flow of washing solution carrying the clothes takesubstantially the path shown by thefull line, arrows in F gure 2 w enthe tub is rotatin in a counter-clockwise direction, while the arrows.in dotted, line show the pathof, washins, sqlu n and olothesimm ne of thlipt cal sectionswhen, t e tub. s. ta ed in a cl kw s directi n.

Having thus disclosed my invention, I, claim:

In, a. washing. a ne. a u herei mount d r ci lat on. n. a. ve tica a snd. compr s n substantia ly c l ndrical m mb r avin a flat base, an dametrically o p sed mperforate ies. xtend ng radially inward and hav nga. uniiorm. d pth f, substan lly onef. h adiu of the tub, each bafllehaving its apex extending longitudinally of the tub and with its sidesflaring outwardly in a smooth curve merging with the side walls of thetub whereby said baflies divide the tub interior into two substantiallyellipticalshaped connecting pockets and when the tub is rapidlyoscillated the curved sides of the battles impel and direct the washwater and clothes carried; thereby; from each pocket inwardly and intothe adjoining pocket and thereby give a vigorous washing action in whichthe clothes are twisted and manipulated for thorough cleansing, andmeans for'rapidly'osoillating the tub through an a e reate than fiflfiTHOMAS R. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED llhe. following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED: STATES. PATENTS,

Number Name Date- 141,200 Brown July 29, 1873 747,849 llvierley Dec. 22,1903 1,486,646 Waller Jan. 15, 1924 1,510,087 Jones Sept. 30, 19241,525,911 Blake; g Feb. 10, 1925 1,627,931 Schroeder- May 10, 192"!1,764,476 Smith June 1'7, 1930 1,806,982 McKercher May 26, 19311,961,606 Ells June 5, 1934 2,276,147 Birr Mar. 10, 1942

